Automatism

The What

Automatism (aka: automatic drawing) is the act of drawing without conscious thought or planning. You pick up a tool (pen, pencil, marker, anything) and simply let your hand move across the page, free from intention or expectation. The process is everything; the final image is almost incidental.

The technique works with any medium, though pens are most common. I've personally used everything from fine liners to tempera paint sticks. The results are unpredictable by design and you might end up with scribbles, abstract shapes, hidden figures, or nothing recognizable at all. The point isn't what appears on the page, it's what happens in your mind while you're drawing.

The Why
I struggle with over-planning. For years, I've known that my art thrives on randomness because when I over-plan, perfectionism takes over and I may not finish the piece. Even my "planned" pieces now are only partially planned. Like, I'll decide on the technique, supplies, and a basic shape or generic prompt, then let the rest emerge organically. Automatic drawing is the extreme version of what I've already been doing, even if on an unconscious level.

Recently, I found myself trapped under self-imposed expectations. The pressure to create something "good" or "meaningful" with every mark I made follows me in every piece. Automatic drawing cut through that. When you're not trying to make anything specific, there's no room for judgment. It's pure freedom.

A Brief History (from my notes)
Automatism has deep roots in art history, most notably as a core technique of the Surrealist movement in the early 20th century. Surrealists like André Masson and Joan Miró used automatic drawing to access the unconscious mind, believing that bypassing rational thought would reveal deeper truths and hidden desires. The technique was influenced by Sigmund Freud's theories of the unconscious and the free association method used in psychoanalysis.

The Surrealists saw automatic drawing as a way to tap into the "true" self, unfiltered by society, convention, or conscious control. They would sit with paper and pen, letting their hands move without direction, then examine the results for symbols, figures, and meanings that emerged from their subconscious.

Later, the technique influenced Abstract Expressionists like Jackson Pollock, who embraced the spontaneity and gestural freedom that automatism offered.

Today, automatic drawing is used in art therapy, mindfulness practice, and as a creative warm-up exercise. It's valued not just for what it produces, but for the mental state it induces: a flow state where inner critic goes quiet and creativity flows freely.

The How

Materials:

• Any drawing tool (pen, pencil, marker, tempera paint sticks…just whatever feels right)
• Any surface (paper, canvas, sketchbook)
• That's it…truly anything goes

Step-by-Step:

1. Set an intention to not have an intention. This is the most important step. Decide that you're going to draw without trying to draw anything specific.
2. Pick up your tool. Choose whatever medium feels good in the moment. I often reach for a pen, but I've used tempera paint sticks too.
3. Put your tool to the page. Don't think about where. Just let it touch down somewhere.
4. Start moving. Let your hand wander. Draw lines, curves, loops, zigzags, or whatever emerges. Don't plan the next mark. Don't think about composition. Just keep moving.
5. Continue until you feel done. This might be 30 seconds or 30 minutes. There's no minimum or maximum. You'll know when to stop…maybe when your hand feels tired, or when you sense the energy has shifted.
6. Step back and look. This is optional but often reveals interesting things. Your subconscious might have hidden figures, symbols, or patterns you didn't notice while drawing.
7. Embellish if you want. Often, after the initial automatic drawing, I find an end goal naturally emerging. That might mean adding color, defining shapes, or transforming scribbles into something more recognizable. This post-automatic phase can become its own creative process.

Tips & Tricks:

• Don't overthink it. The whole point is to bypass the thinking brain. If you catch yourself planning, gently return to just moving.
• Try different speeds. Sometimes fast scribbling works best; other times, slow, deliberate marks feel right. There's no wrong way.
• Close your eyes. This can help disconnect the visual/planning part of your brain and put you more in touch with physical sensation.
• Switch hands. Using your non-dominant hand can further disrupt conscious control.
• Pair with music or silence. Some people find music helps them get into the flow state. Others prefer silence. Experiment.
• Let go of judgment. Your drawing might look "bad" or "like nothing." That's not the point. The value is in the process, not the product.
• Return to it later. I often find that automatic drawings I initially dismissed reveal interesting shapes or ideas when I look at them with fresh eyes days or weeks later. They can become jumping-off points for more developed pieces.
• Use it as a warm-up. Automatic drawing is great for loosening up before moving to more intentional work. Think of it as stretching for your creativity.